Rail budget disappoints Assam

Even in an election year, just one daily express train has been announced for Assam.

Even in an election year, just one daily express train has been announced for Assam.

Apart from this, the weekly Kanniyakumari Express, started to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, will run from Dibrugarh to Thiruvananthapuram. And the Kavi Guru Express is meant to go from Guwahati to Jaipur. The tri-weekly Rajya Rani Express from Silghat to Dhubri will touch Guwahati.

Assam BJP president Ranjit Dutta said: “Mamata Banerjee tabled the railway budget in Parliament keeping in mind the assembly elections in her home state, West Bengal. The budget has disappointed the people of Assam. The minister had announced just three new trains from Assam. This is not a significant proposal. We have many demands before the ministry. We need workshops that can generate employment.”

Dutta is surprised that no proposal in the budget was made for the completion of the Bogibeel railway bridge project on the Brahmaputra in Dibrugarh. The foundation stone for the bridge was laid in 2002 but even half the work has not been completed.

Bani Das, owner of a tea stall at Guwahati railway station, said: “There was no proposal for the development of Guwahati railway station, which is the most important railway communication hub for the entire northeastern region. Banerjee always favours her state and ignores others.”